A GROUP of 11 pupils who have not missed a day of school all year met the Lord Mayor and went ice skating as a special treat.

Teachers at St Anne's Catholic Primary School in Chace Avenue, Willenhall, Coventry, organised a visit to the Council House and a session of ice skating at the Coventry Skydome for the dedicated youngsters.

The city's Lord Mayor, Cllr Jack Harrison showed the pupils, aged five to 10, around the Council House and presented each of them with a certificate for having a spotless attendance record.

Cllr Harrison, who introduced himself to the children as Jack, said: "All these pupils have 100 per cent attendance and they've all done very well."

Shantain Ncube, nine, said: "If I don't miss school because I learn more. I enjoy school."

Staff raised the cash for the trip by organising a disco earlier in the year.

ALMOST 3,000 women will be lining up in Coombe Abbey tonight to raise money in the Cancer Research Race for Life.

Organisers are hoping the weather is kinder than last year, when heavy rain turned the green fields into a mudbath.

The race is the second in the Coventry area following the run in Stoneleigh Park last month where more than 7,000 women took part despite more terrible weather.

Organiser Vikki Savery said the race at Coombe, which starts at 7pm, is full with 2,700 women signed up to take part.

They will be running, walking or jogging the 5km course, many in memory of loved ones or as survivors of cancer.

Vikki said: "It's the biggest it's ever been at Coombe.

"It's only been going here for three years and each time it gets bigger.

"Last year was a total washout but the women still turned out and took part, raising more than £200,000, so we know bad weather won't deter them. But of course we're still hoping for a bit of sunshine this year."

It is the 16th year Cancer Research has organised Race for Life events around the country.

So far four million people have taken part and the charity has raised more than £240 million towards trying to find a cure for cancer.

A group of young people will be presenting in Coventry to a group of Head teachers from across the region as part of the national SHINE '09 Festival, explaining how they successfully led the learning of Mathematics in their school.

As part of the SHINE Festival, the pupils from Kineton High School, all aged between 11 and 18, will address a meeting of senior teachers from all over Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire.

The young people will describe how and why they successfully took over the teaching of Maths for a day.

They will be also be showing off some of the exciting activities they devised including: the Family Fortunes style game show, The Great Egg Drop, and mask and kite making activities.

They will explain in detail the challenges they faced and the learning achieved.

All the innovative activities took place as part of Cre8us's Creative Partnerships programme. 

Jo Trowsdale, Director of Cre8us said, "We work in partnership with schools to enhance the learning and cultural experiences of young people.

The students at Kineton High School clearly demonstrated that they can successfully drive a project and lead the learning creatively and responsibly in their school.

Through projects like this, we help schools and other organisations that work with young people, to develop new and innovative approaches that enable them to acquire a wide range of creative skills that are vital for the modern world!"

For more information see www.cre8us.org.uk

Binley Woods Allotments Association has just held its annual best kept allotments competition.

David Duffy from Clifton Allotments Association who was invited to judge the competition said: "Generally the standards varied as would be expected where time is of the essence, if you are working then you have less time than if retired, but there were some outstanding plots."

Hughie Sweeny, Secretary of Binley Woods Association, took first place as the best kept allotment.

If you can to contribute in any way, we would be very grateful, but we particularly need fruit and veg, good quality bric-a-brac, tombola prizes, plants and gardening equipment, and cakes for our tea tent and cake stall.

Most important of all, turn up on the day to support us and enjoy a fabulous day out.

And don't forget it's our Coventry Sunflower Walk on Sunday. If you haven't registered, just turn up on the day.

Wanted - shop volunteers. We are currently recruiting for our Myton shops. For details, ask at one of our shops, call Pinky on 01926 838836 or e-mail pinky.sidhu@mytonhospice.org

ADVENTUROUS Rolls Royce staff are taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

A team of 12 workers and four drivers from the Ansty site, in Coombe Fields Road, are setting off on Friday to climb the three highest mountains in the UK, Snowdon in Wales, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Ben Nevis in Scotland, within 24 hours.

The team has already raised a whopping £3,822 in online donations and is aiming for the £7000 mark. To sponsor the team visit www.justgiving.com/rolls-royce-ansty3peaks.

Thank you also for donations presented this week including £50 from the Coventry & District Caledonian Society and £100 from Mr Copas.

In last week's column we had in incorrect spelling of one of our contributors.

It was Alan Ledwidge and his family and friends who came all the way from Australia and Ireland for his 50th birthday and were very generous in donating to the Appeal.

We are busy preparing for Myton's Annual Grand Summer Fete which will take place on Sunday July 12 at 12.30.

If you are able to donate plants, fruit & veg, bottles or bake a cake for our Tea Tent and cake stall, we'd love to hear from you.

Another date for your diary is Sunday 28 June. Local folk band The Black Parrot Seaside have organised a 'Concert for Judith' in memory of their guitarist's wife, Judith Chave. The concert will feature local artists and will be held at The Maudslay Hotel, Coventry (no admission fee). More details at www.blackparrotseaside.co.uk

GASPS and shrieks filled Coventry playgrounds when BMX gymnasts rolled in to celebrate bike week.

The daredevil bikers pulled off hair-raising stunts to inspire youngsters at Pearl Hyde, Potters Green and Sir Frank Whittle primary schools.

During the gravity-defying display the cyclists perched on their handlebars while travelling on one wheel and treated their bikes like unicycles, spinning up to 20 times on the spot while the children cheered them on.

The event, organised by Coventry Bike-It officer Andy Atkin, was to reward staff and pupils who have been cycling into school, and to encourage others to give it a go.

"It's not really dangerous," said BMXer Keelan Phillips, after admitting he falls off his bike on average 100 times a day.

"Ramp riding is dangerous because you're airborne. But here, we're at ground level competing against one another to pull off more difficult and more original tricks.

"It's regarded as an art form. We call it breakdancing on bikes."

Joseph, aged 73, of Postbridge Road, Styvechale, will be raising money for the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.

The retired Tile Hill College lecturer said: "Despite having a heart attack some nine years ago, I am reasonably fit and well and looking forward to the experience."

Kewal Singh-Sahotta will be leaving his house in Ulvercroft Road and trekking to Stratford via Kenilworth and Leamington.

AFTER a quarter of a century, a popular Coventry laundrette owner has finished her last spin.

Laura Cutler, 65 of Ulverscroft Road, Cheylesmore has retired after working at Quinton Laundrette, Quinton Road since 1984.

But before selling it on, Mrs Cutler made sure the launderette would stay as it is.

Binley Evergreens over 55s club held an Easter Bonnet competition at the John White Community Centre, Binley.

Here is a photo is of the winner Marlene Barnett and some of the other entrants.

Tom was bowled over by Helen's smile at a dance in Birmingham and they married at St Mary's Church (below), in Stoke, Coventry, on April 7, 1969.

George and Kathleen Smith, of Binley, made their marriage vows 60 years ago at St Bartholomew's Church, Binley, in 1949 after meeting at a GEC dance.

George, 85, worked for the company in the maintenance department while his wife-to-be was an employee in machine accounts.

FIVE years ago, Greg Donoghue and his friends left a pool hall in Coventry after a night out.

As they stood on the pavement in Far Gosford Street, Greg, then aged 18, was mowed down from behind by a speeding motorist who had mounted the kerb.

He was taken to hospital with a fractured skull, brain haemorrhaging, cuts and bruises.